One of the most troubling phenomena observed in many individuals who grew up in religious-fundamentalist families is their often-marked lack of empathy. This is not an isolated observation but a pattern that raises serious questions about the theological frameworks and character assumptions that underpin such environments. Additionally, the severe legalism often present in fundamentalism prioritizes harsh punishments over compassion. Rules and regulations take precedence over grace, making it difficult for individuals raised in such environments to develop a balanced, empathetic approach to others’ struggles and failures.
When Jesus stated, “By their fruits, you will know them” (Matthew 7:16), He provided a principle by which the authenticity of faith could be measured. If the fruit of fundamentalist theology is often emotional coldness and a diminished capacity to empathize with others, we must pause to consider what this reveals about the roots of such a belief system.
Empathy and Its Absence in Fundamentalist Contexts
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, a foundational trait that fosters relationships, community, and compassion. However, many who grow up in fundamentalist families are taught to view the world in stark binaries: saved and unsaved, righteous and wicked, holy and sinful. This worldview often conditions children to see others not as fellow human beings with struggles and pain but as projects to be corrected or adversaries to be condemned.
This “us vs. them” mentality further erodes empathy. When others are seen as “destined to burn in hell” (as in Calvinism’s dual predestination doctrine) and beyond redemption, there is little motivation to understand or care for them. Instead of fostering compassion, such a worldview often encourages dismissal or even disdain for those outside the perceived circle of salvation.
The “Bad Fruit” of a Harsh Theology
Jesus warned that a tree is known by its fruit. Good doctrine produces good fruit, and bad doctrine produces bad fruit. The lack of empathy so often seen in fundamentalist contexts can be understood as “bad fruit” stemming from a misrepresentation of God’s character. Fundamentalist theology frequently portrays God as a cruel tyrant, obsessively punitive, and unyielding. This vision of God shapes adherents to mirror what they believe about Him. If God is seen as primarily angry, judgmental, and devoid of compassion, it follows that His followers will emulate these traits.
Yet, the Bible consistently presents a God who is slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and full of mercy (Exodus 34:6). For instance, in the Old Testament, God’s empathy is evident when He hears the cries of the Israelites in Egypt and delivers them from slavery (Exodus 3:7-8). Likewise, Jesus Himself demonstrated radical empathy, reaching out to the marginalized, dining with sinners, and weeping with those who grieved. One powerful example is when Jesus wept for Jerusalem, lamenting the city’s rejection of Him and His desire to gather its people as a hen gathers her chicks (Luke 19:41-44). These instances highlight a God who deeply feels and responds to human suffering.
If a theological framework produces individuals who are cold and unempathetic, it is worth questioning whether such a framework truly reflects the God revealed in Scripture.
Why This Matters
The absence of empathy has far-reaching consequences, both for individuals and communities. Without empathy, relationships deteriorate, and societies fragment. More importantly, a lack of empathy in those who claim to represent Christ gives the watching world a distorted picture of who God is. This is not just a failure of personal character but a failure of witness.
Fundamentalism’s inability to foster empathy should compel us to reexamine its foundational beliefs. Does its theology inspire love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and the other fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)? Or does it cultivate fear, judgment, and alienation? The fruit reveals the nature of the tree, and the fruit of empathy—or its absence—is a clear indicator of the health of a belief system.
A Call to Reevaluate Theology
If fundamentalism produces a lack of empathy, then it stands in contradiction to the gospel’s central message of love and reconciliation. Jesus called His followers to love their neighbors and enemies as themselves, to show mercy, and to embody the compassion He exemplified. Any theology that leads to the opposite must be challenged.
Theological reflection is not just an intellectual exercise; it is a moral imperative. We must ask whether our beliefs lead us to embody the love of Christ or whether they create barriers to the very empathy that Jesus lived and taught. If the fruits of fundamentalist theology are bad, then the tree—the underlying vision of God and His character—needs to be uprooted and replanted with a theology that reflects the true nature of God: one of love, mercy, and empathy.
In conclusion, the lack of empathy observed in many who grew up in fundamentalist families is not merely a social concern but a theological one. It reveals the “bad fruit” of a distorted view of God and calls us to reevaluate and reform our understanding of Him. After all, if our theology does not produce love, it is not of God, for “God is love” (1 John 4:8).
